Antiskid chain



C. A. HARTFIEL ANTISKID CHAIN Filed Jan. 1924 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES IN VENTOR I I 6716mm flH/IRTF/EL wow S BY ATTORNEYS Aug. 24 192s. 1,597,596

0. A. HARTFIEL ANTI'SKID CHAIN Filed Jan. 2 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 WITNESSES 6 7 IN VENTOR CHHRLESfl Hm? Tf/EL BY ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24,1926. '7 7 if 1,597,595

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

, CHARLES A. HARTFIEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ANTISKID' CHAIN.

Application filed January 22, 1924. Serial No. 687,871.

This invention relates to improvements Figure 9 is a view in elevation at right 1n anti-skid chains and more particularly angles to Figure 8, showing the parts in to chains for use on tires such, for example, edge view. as automobile tires. My improved anti-skid chain comprises 5 An object of the invention is to provide a pair of side chains 1 which are precisely 69 a chain which can be readily adjusted to fit alike and positioned at opposite sides of a any ordinary tire and which provides means tire or shoe 2, and connected at suitable for taking up slack in the side chains after intervals by cross chains 3. It is to be the device is in position on the tire thus understood that the side chains and the to facilitating the placing of the chain on the cross chains provide sufficient slack to allow tire because it can be coupled while relaa certain amount of movement of the antitively loose and afterwards tightened. skid chain as a whole around theperiphery A further object is to provide an imof the tire or shoe to give the best results, proved construction of cross chains which as is well known in this art. The side 15 gives the maximum of traction and prevents chain's 1 are composed of a series of flat.

skidding in any direction. arcuate links 4, the ends of adjacent links Afurther object is to provide cross chains overlapping and pivotally connected by 1 with improved means for coupling them to rivets 5. These links may be stamped from the side chains, so that the cross chains can sheet metal of proper thickness and 29 be readily removed and replaced as occasion strength and present a relatively smooth may require. surface to the side of the shoe or tire. The

I A further object is to provide an anticoupling means for the ends of the side skid chain of the character described which chains is illustrated in detail in Figures can be manufactured and sold at a rela- 8 and 9, and comprises end links 6 and 7 E35 tively low price and which will most efiiand a lever 8. The end link 6 is of bifurciently perform the functions for which it cated form, the two links or portions is intended. thereof being integrally connected by a WVith these and other objects in view, the cross tongue 9 which is adapted to be eninvention consists in certain novel features gaged by a hook 10 on the free end of the 30 of construction and combinations and arlink 7. Thelever 8 above referred to is rangements of parts which will be more pivotally connected to the end of one of the fully hereinafter described and pointed out ordinary chain liks l, and at a point adin the claims. jacent said pivot is pivotally connected to In the accompanying drawings the end of link 7, as shown at 11,so that 35 Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of by swinging the lever 8 on its pivot 12 it a wheel showing my improved anti-skid will cause a longitudinal movement to be chain in operative position on the shoe or imparted to the link 7 To couple the ends tire thereof; of the chain, the hook end 10 of link 7 is Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of one positioned through the bifurcated link 6 40 of the cross chains; and engages the connecting portion 9 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cen thereof. The lever 8 is then swung to the tral link of a cross chain; left, as shown in Figure 8, until a laterally Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of projecting locking 11p 13 thereon can be the other links of the cross chain; forced over the edge of one of the chain- Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating links 4:, when the ends of the chain'will be the coupling link for connecting the cross securely coupled. chain to the sidechain link; My improved take-up mechanism is il- Figure 6 is a view in elevation illuslustrated in detail in Figureso and 7, and trating my improved take-up device in exwhile I may employ any number of these' 50 tended position; take-up mechanisms in each side chain, I

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the have illustrated but one in each chain and take-up device in its contracted and normal located suchtake-up mechanism directly opoperative position; posite to the chain and locking means. This Figure 8 is a view in side elevation illus take-up mechanism comprises a lever 14 trating the side chain locking mechanism; which is pivotally connected at one end to 119 I one of the chain links 4, as shown at 15, and at a point near is pivotally connected to the end of another chain link 1, as shown at 16. Thus when the lever 14 is swung on its pivot 15 it causes the ends of the chain to be drawn together or separated, as the case may be. Figure 6 shows the device in osition to allow a full extension of the chain. When it is desired to tighten the chain the lever 7 is swung on its pivot to the right of Figure 6 to bring an inwardly projecting tongue 17 thereon in position between two adjacent linksA: and back of the rivet 5 connecting them. In other words, this lever is swung beyond the lineof pivots so that it will securely hold of the rivet heads22.

and maintain the chain in its tightened form. j

In Figures 2,3, 4 and 5, I illustratein detail the construction of one of my improved cross chains 3. Each cross chain ha a central -;link 18 which is relatively flat and pro vided'lwith side flanges 19. The other links 20 ofthe cross chain are'alike and are of general triangular form with outwardly turned flanges 21 at their side edges. The

narrower inner ends of adjacent links 21 are positioned on top of the wider ends of the links and connected by rivets 22, and the links; 20 adjacent-- link '18 overlap the ends of link 18 and likewise connect by rivets 22.

'Th'ese'rivets 22 havesufiicient play in the openings in the links receiving them to permit of'all necessary movements, and the heads of said rivets at the outer portions of the cross chain are of sufficient height to sustain a portion of the wearin conjunction with the flanges 19 and 21to assist in obtaining perfect traction and preventing skidding. To couple the cross chains 3 to the side chains 1, I provide coupling members 23, one. of which is illustrated in perspective in Figure 5. Each coupling mem ber is composed preferably of relatively strong wire having a head 2% at one end so that when this coupling member is positioned through an opening 25 in an end link of the cros chain 8 the head 24 willhold the partstogether and will. function .asone V The other end of the coupling member is bent upon itself, formingaloop- 26, which is positioned about one of the side links 1 and then "bent tightly together 'so as to elfectually secure the parts and' yet' permit of necessary movements. hen it is desired to remove the cross chain it is simply necessary to spread the loop 26 far enough to permit 'its release from one of. the; side; links, as .will' be readily understood, p

It wi-llbe noted that in constructing-my.

improved; chain I can form all of the; links,

of the side:- chains and all of the links of the crosschams ofarelati-vely h'eavye sheet metal which can bez stamped or otherwise: shaped ding.

It is, of course, to be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular number of link in the side chains, any number of take-up devices, or any particular number of cross chains, as this will depend altogether upon the size of the tire and the desire of the trade.

In describing my improved device I have referred to the links dot the side chains 1 as being arcuate and it willbe noted that most of the links of the chain are'curved outwardly when in position on the tire, and that certain of the links adjacent the looking means and adjacent the take-up mechanism are oppositely positioned so as to provide space for the accommodation of pivotal connections in coupling o taking up the slack in the chain, in other words, the links are so arranged to'require a minimum of space and to prevent a plurality of thicknesses or unevensurfaces which might chafe the tire. Y 7 I I have also referred to the links of the cross chains as being relatively-flat. This i true With the exception that these links at their outer ends are slightly beveled or tapered to give amore perfect fit to the rounded surface of the shoe when the links are properly coupled and placed thereon. This is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 although it is evident that this may be somewhat exaggerated and needs to be relatively slight in a full size in actual construction.

Various slight changes and alterations might be made in the'general form of the partsdescribed without departing from my invention, and hence-I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such-slight changes and alterations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of' the character described, comprising side chains and cross chains connecting them, said cross chains composed'of relatively flat metal links overlapping each other, and flanges at the edgesof the links, the intermediate links having relatively parallel sidesand the other links of general triangular form' with their inner shorter. ends} overlapping the Wider ends of adjacent links.

2. A device of the character described, comprising .sidechain and cross chains. connecting them,-v said cross chains composed of relatively flat metal links overlapping each other, and flanges natf the edgesoff'the links,- the. intermediate. 1ink's..--= hav-ing;; rela etively parallel sides and the other links of general triangular form with their inner shorter ends overlapping the wider ends of adjacent links, and rivets connecting the links, the head of the rivets co-operating with the flanges of the links and forming anti-skid devices.

3. A cross chain, comprising a central relatively flat link having parallel side edges and upsetting flanges at the edges thereof, a series of triangular links at both sides of the intermediate link, said triangular links having their smaller ends overlapping the wider ends of adjacent links and also the intermediate link, rivets through the overlapping links, side flanges at the side edges of the triangular links, and coupling devices at the ends of the cross chain for removable attachment to the side chains.

4. A device of the character described,

comprising side chains and cross chains connecting them, said side chalns composed of a series of arcuate relatively flat links over- 5. A side chain, comprising arcuate links overlapping and pivotaly connected, a bifurcated link at one end of the chain, a

lever pivotally connected to the other end of the chain, a link pivotally connected to the lever and having a hook-shaped end to engage the bifurcated link, and means on the lever for locking it against one of the links of the chain.

6. A side chain, comprising arcuate links overlapping and pivotally connected, a takeup pivotally connected at one end to one link and between its ends to an adjacent link, and a locking tongue on the free end of said take-up lever adapted to be positioned between two adjacent links.

7. A cross chain for a non-skid tire formed from a plurality of articulated links, each of which has the shape of a truncated isosceles triangle, and has the extreme side projected portions bent at right angles to the body I larly to the body portion of the link.

9. An anti-skid member for tires having double sets of narrow treads converging towards the median plane of the tire and forming between them recesses having laterally directed open ends.

10. An anti-skid device for tires including a cross member formed of a plurality of flexibly connected plates, the said plates having formed thereon a plurality oftread members shaped as narrow substantially rectilinear ribs inclined to the median plane of the tire with which the device is used, the ribs being arranged in echelon with the ribs at one side of the median plane of the tire oppositely inclined to the ribs at the other side of the median plane of the tire.

11. An anti-skid device for tires constructed as set forth in claim 10 in which two ribs are employed at each side of the median plane of the tire,vboth at the forward and rearward edges of the cross member, the

ribs at the forward side of the cross member at one side of the median plane of the tire being inclined in the same direction as the ribs at the rearward side of the cross member at the other side of the median plane of the tire.

12. An anti-skid device for tires including a cross member formed of a plurality of flexibly connected plates, the said plates each having formed thereon at both front and rear edges a plurality of treads shaped as narrow substantially rectilinear ribs, the ribs being arranged in spaced pairs, the ribs of each pair being inclined relative to one another and the median plane of the tire with which the device is used.

CHARLES A. HARTFIEL. 

